Fire-escape



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 1.

J. T. DAVIS.

PIRE` ESCAPE.

No. 307.023. ateed 00's. 21, 1884.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. T. DAVIS.

PIRE ESCAPE. No. 307,023. Patented Oct. 21, 1884.

`vUNITED STATES PATENT @Titien JOSEPH rr. Davis, or NEWARK, onto.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,@23, dated October 21,1884,

' Application tiled June 5, 1884. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn T. Davis, acitizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Licking and State ot' Ohio, have invented certain new4 and useful Improvements in Fire Escapes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a perspective view with the parts in position as in use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing parts in position for moving; Fig. 3, a detail showing hinge and catch on post.

rllhe object of this invention is to provide an easily -made, strong, and cheap lire-escape; and the points of novelty will be fully set out and explained in the following description and claims.

In the drawings, A denotes any suitable earriage or frame, having/wheels a a. Upon this carriage are so placed the hollow metallic pillars or posts B that they shall be strongly and Securely held vertically when in use,or turned down for transportation. These pillars are of proper height to form the first section of the ladder-support. Into these hollow posts or pillars the upper section, C, of the ladder-support telescopes. These may be of any desired length. The lower section is hinged at d to the carriage-platform, or in any other suitable way or manner to the carriage or frame. Then the section C is telescoped down into the lower hollow section, B, the whole can belowered down upon the rear truck or frame, A, which frame consists of a horizontal support, at', attached to the axle of the wheel a. This truck A is connected to the carriage A bythe tongue at, which is pivoted to its rear axle, so that the truck can have all necessary horizontal movement in turning corners, &c.

W'hen the device is to be used at a tire, the carriage is `placed in convenient position near to the burning building, its front wheels, a', are locked or lined in position in any convenient way or manner, or the carriage frame and wheels may be so made that they can be swung around under the body by means of handle a5,

i and thus the carriage is fixed firm in position.

By means of the windlass E and the cord or chain D, att-ached at one end to the upper part of the posts or pillars B or lower Section ot' the ladder-supports, and passing at the other over `the said windlass, which has suitable standards iixed to the carriage A, the ladder-support sect-ions can be raised into vertical position on the carriage, where they can be held not only by said cord or chain, but also bythe spring-latch F, attached to the carriage and engaging upon any suitable projection, b, on the lower end of one of the posts or pillars B. rlhe section C ot' thelad der-support, which for purposes of transportationhas been telescoped into the pillars or posts B, can now be raised vertically by means of the windlass G (which is supported on the carriage A at any convenient place) and the rope or chain H, which passes over the drum of the windlass and the pulley Zi, (secured to the upper part of seetions or pillars 13,) and at the other end is attached to the lower part of the section C.

It will be observed that the diameter of the section B is sutlieiently greater than that of section C to allow the latter, with its carrying chain or rope, free movement in and out of B.

The endless chain H is composed of links 71. and eyes h, and is of thekind used on sprocket-wheels, and passes over such wheels I in the body of the carriage A and wheels I in the upper part of the sections C. Motion is given to these lower wheels by similar sprocketwheels, K, and endless chain Ii and crank k, which are properly adjusted in and upon the frame A; but I may use instead of sprocket-wheel Ii a train of gear-wheels to answer same purpose. To the chain are secured, at suitable distances apart, the rungs 7i?. By operating the crank 7s the sprocket-wheels I are moved, and these carry the chain H, and this then passes over the upper sprocketwheel, I, and the rear sprocket-wheel, l`'. Thus there is not the slightest possibility of this chain slipping. Its up-aud-down movement as itis revolved, as aforesaid, will be evenand safe. The pawl g on the windlass, engaging on the ratchet g of the windlass G, will hold the sect-ion at any point desired. This pawl can be disengaged by means of any suitable trip. (N ot shown in present instance.) The brake 'L, which can be moved against the wheel M on the outer end of the shaft of the sprocket-wheel I, can be used to regulate the movement of the wheel and the chain it carries.

XVhen the device is not in use, the parts being arranged as in Fig. 2, the slack of the chain can be very easily gathered up and secured in any desired way. There is not the slightest trouble in disengaging all of this or in placing the chain on the sprocket-wheels when occasion for use arises.

rIo the upper end of section C is hinged or otherwise adjusted the ladder N, of any de sired length. It may have curved ends n, for engaging upon the window-ledge, or otherwise being attached to the building, and will afford easy means to connect the iire-escape therewith.

It will be observed that as many additional ladder-support sections as may be desired can be added to th ose shown by merely mechanical adjustment.

The operation of this apparatus will be readily understood from the above descrip tion.

Having now described my invention, what I consider new, and desire i'o secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with the'hollow metallic posts or pillars B, constituting the lower section of the laddersupports, the section C, windlass G, chains H and H, andthe sprocket-wheels I I Il, as and for the purposes described.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination of the sprocket-wheels I I I2, operated as described, with the cha-ins H, having links 7i', eyes i, rungs 7b2, and sections B and C, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a lire-escape apparatus, of the carriage A, truck A', the sec tions B, and telescoping sections C, the windlass G, provided with pawl and rack, the chain H, and the sprocket-wheels I I I2, the wheels K, chain K', and the crank s, all substantially as described.

et. In a lire-escape apparatus having telescoping sections adapted to be raised andlowered in the manner and by the means described, the combination of the sprocket-wheel I, having the wheel M on its shaft, with the brake L, substantially as described.

5. In a {ire-escape apparatus, the combination oi' the carriage A. and the rear truck, A, with the hinged section B, telescoping section C, the windlass E. the chains I), latch F, wheel K, chain K', crank 7c', the sprocketwheels I I I?, the chain H, having rungs yli, windlass G, having pawl, rack, and stop, and ladder N, all as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence oi' two witnesses.

JOSEPH T. DAVIS.

Vitnesses:

.Timms XV. OwnNs, NATHAN BosrrwIcK. 

